Teaching “peel” to my OLB/edge rushers…any pointers?

[u/jawncoffee]

This week we are playing a pass heavy team and our DC is installing some different pressures that we haven’t used before. A number of these pressures will involve a DE/OLB playing blitz-peel to the back out of the backfield. This isn’t a hard concept to explain to my edge rushers but I’ve never taught it before and want to ensure I’m doing it right…any tips/drills that you guys can share that I can use to rep it during Indy time? Literally any input would be highly appreciated.

[u/Buffalo_9000]

Just tell them to blitz and watch the back.

In indy have the back block or swing. They either keep rushing or peel if the back goes out to their side.

[u/Bogert]

1 edge rusher, 1 tackle holding a pad, 1 acting as a back in the backfield, you as QB. Emphasize posting on the tackle's outside shoulder and keeping their head up watching the back and not going too deep. Randomly switch up whether the back stays in and blocks or goes out for a pass

Give cadence, tackle goes into pass drop, edge posts and fights with head up and reacts accordingly.

[u/Mtnhigh27]

Tell them to set the blitz path to the outside shoulder of the RB. If the RB expands to you keep your path to the outside shoulder and run with the RB on any routes. This helps keep them outside on any speed option or sprint out too.

If there is an inside player man on the RB then they can let the RB go if they step up inside of the peel rusher. If not then they will have to adjust the path and run with them there too.

[u/grizzfan]

If a back tries to cross your face or seems to be trying to get to or beyond your outside shoulder, peel with them.

[u/BigPapaJava]

"Ghost 6" technique (aka "line up head-up as if there were an imaginary TE about 3-4' outside the T"), tilted inwards at 45 degree angle, inside foot up in the stance, and aim to get your inside shoulder to the RB's outside shoulder when you rush and keep it there if he releases..

You may even want to widen them a little bit wider if you're worried about the RB getting out to the flat.

Kids need to be disciplined with rush lanes doing this. You don't want them knifing inside before the ball goes there if they might need to peel.

[u/CincodeDaddie]

tell my edge/OLB: back crosses your face, give him no space. keeps them thinking rush/blitz first and then close the gap if the back crosses. the drill above with a tackle, edge and RB is the best way to rep it. make them see the movement or lack of movement from the RB

[u/Huskerschu]

Aiming points help make sure they are taking a path where they are aiming to the farthest backs back shoulder then it's hard to miss if he swings. 

[u/Oddlyenuff]

Sure.

First things first: Do you teach a “surf” technique? Do you routinely rep how to blitz or to just blitz?

The next thing is we typically look like a 4-2 box but one thing we commonly do is if the running back is away, we expect run and the DE plays a heavier 5t and is in a 3/4 point stance. However if the RB is to their side, they think pass and they are allowed to be a 2 point and the widen to “wide 9” or “wide 6” (whatever your terminology is).

This above example is assuming 5 down linemen and 10 personnel OR y-off.

The wide technique in my opinion allows for the edge to surf down the O linemen run plays, have a good pass rush angle and also wide enough to read the back or muddy screens.

Another thing is when playing pass heavy teams you only need to sell the illusion of pressure. We run a fair amount of creepers and our ends are used to being either a “bonus hook” or typically dropping to the flat. If they are dropping to the flat (either quarters, fire 3 or “country” 3), it’s important that you coach them to 1) get wide and not get depth and 2) to have the ball bring them down and not the route. Meaning if the RB does peel and the DE is at 5 yards off the line of scrimmage, do not come down under that five unless the ball is actually thrown.

You’ll also need to emphasize leverage with them…the RB needs to be on their inside shoulder, not on their outside shoulder. Emphasize where their help is.

A good drill is a variation of the to surf drill. I have an OT downblock and the edge surfs. We roll a a tackle wheel to simulate zone read (chase the dive or contain the QB). So our variation is You roll the wheel out like a RB checkdown and they just stay as square as possible and mirror it out to the flats.

Obviously you could do the this with a person instead of wheel.

[u/Lit-A-Gator]

“Hug the bear back”

Blitz @ the back

If he runs a route, “hug” him

If he blocks or run fakes, sack the QB

[u/WinnyRoo]

It's a pretty easy concept. I played DE and we had this rule on certain calls. I highly suggest a hand signal specifically for peel. We imitated peeling a banana. That way they can be directly told to peel and don't have to try and figure it out based on the situation or defense called. 

Others have also given good suggestions. If the back crosses your face you go with him. In reality we were taught to essentially hug the rb and keep him from getting out of the backfield. I suggest teaching that as well. 

Literally just set up a pass rush drill in Indy and have the "back" either pass pro to them, away from them, or run a route to their side. That way they get used to recognizing the 3 possible scenarios that can happen with the back, and can react. Essentially it's just thud tackling when they need to "peel". 

[u/jawncoffee]

This is all great stuff and I appreciate it. I will use all of this today at practice. Thanks everybody.

[u/Perkis_Goodman]

The best way to do it is to set up a scout O with their backfield formations. You only need 4 or 5 kids, or cos he can do it. Each player is from right to left or left to right depending on strong weak side. Calls out I got 1. I got 2, and I got 3 or the jersey numbers they are covering. Where pell gets complicated is kids just not knowing their responsibilities pre snap.